GOLDEN ARROWS VS AMAZULU FC | MTN8

Competition: MTN8
Date: 22 August 2009
Venue:  Chatsworth Stadium

Lamontville Golden Arrows qualified for their first top flight cup final by defeating KwaZulu-Natal rivals AmaZulu 2-0 in their MTN8 semifinal, second leg match at Chatsworth Stadium on Saturday evening.

Leading 2-1 from the first leg played at the same venue last weekend, Abafana Bes’thende secured the win thanks to goals from captain Joseph Musonda and midfielder Njabulo Manqana to win the semifinal cup tie 4-1 on aggregate.

Arrows took the lead and extended their aggregate advantage to 3-1 in the 13th minute. Striker Richard Henyekane whipped a good cross into the AmaZulu 18-yard area from a free kick and Musona, battling with Pere Ariweriyai to meet the ball first, managed to direct it ball beyond Nicolas Gindre in Usuthu’s goal.

AmaZulu began to dictate terms soon after going behind. Brad Riston almost forced an equaliser when he met a corner kick at the far post and then left-back Marc van Heerden powered a shot on target from the edge of the box but Arrows’ Helton Da Rocha pulled off a fantastic save.

The home team may have been seeing less of the ball but they always looked dangerous on the counter, with the pace of Thamsanqa Gabuza, Philani Shange, Njabulo Manqana and Henyekane causing all kinds of trouble for AmaZulu’s backline.

On the half hour mark Arrows virtually wrapped up the tie when left midfielder Manqana fired a sizzling grass-cutter into Gindre’s bottom left-hand corner to make it 2-0 on the night and 4-1 on aggregate.

AmaZulu still retained hope of getting back into the contest but it was clear that they would need to capitalise on every scoring opportunity that came their way. Unfortunately Ritson missed a glaring chance on 38 minutes, shooting wide after a good flick-on from Ayanda Dlamini had given the Usuthu striker a clear sight of goal.

Arrows should have added to the score line in the remainder of the first half, particularly when Richard Henyekane found himself with only Gindre to beat in the 42nd minute, but the striker put his shot agonisingly wide.

Usuthu had a period of sustained pressure in the opening stages of the second half, forcing Arrows onto the back foot and successfully disrupting their slick passing game. However, the home team’s defence held firm and restricted AmaZulu to speculative long-range efforts.

In fact, goalkeeper Da Rocha had hardly any work to do thanks to the outstanding work of defenders Musonda, Siyanda Zwane, Joseph Henyekane and the imperious Siyabonga Sangweni.

Arrows will face either Kaizer Chiefs or Ajax Cape Town in the final on September 26. The Amakhosi and Urban Warriors play their second leg semifinal on Sunday afternoon at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto. Ajax lead 1-0 from the first leg in Cape Town.

Golden Arrows (2) 2 (Musonda 13’, Manqana 30’)
AmaZulu 0

Arrows: Da Rocha, Zwane, Musonda, Sangweni, J. Henyekane, Shange, Khuboni, Bilankulu, Manqana (Zothwane 57’), Gabuza (Kombe 70’), R. Henyekane (Mkhize 85’)

Coach: Mngqithi

AmaZulu: Gindre, S. Gumede, Ariweriyai, Chintu, van Heerden, N. Zwane, Sikhakhane (S. Dlamini 61’), B. Biyela, Ngxabi (Hadebe 89’), Ritson (Gumede 60’), A. Dlamini

Coach: Tovey

Referee: Volgraaf

Cautions: Zothwane; B. Biyela, Ariweriyai.